Broadcast from Inglewood, California, the show included some high-flying sets (Perry, herself, descended onto the stage in a space suit), memorable speeches and, occasionally, events that should have been left in orbit. Check out the best and worst moments from the show below:

Best: Kendrick Lamar's introduction to the show was positively breathtaking. Enmeshed in rows of blinding light, Lamar's set included a man who was set on fire, masked warriors and stunts that were just as cutting as Lamar's breakneck verses.

Worst: Katy Perry as the show's host. While Katy can put on a fun concert, she was about as natural as astro turf while at the VMAs helm, and made for some cringeworthy attempt at humor — particularly where her space travel gimmicks were concerned. "I might pee myself on stage, and it won't be a bit," she said before the show. It probably could have been.

Best: Paris Jackson's impassioned speech spearheaded a trend through which stars weren't afraid to get political. Jackson called out the alt-right specifically for their hatred and violence, and urged everyone watching to stay diligent in the fight for America's cornerstone of justice. Even a descendent of Robert E. Lee took to the stage and urged viewers to confront racism and white supremacy.

Worst: PopCrush loves Lorde, but her voiceless performance of "Homemade Dynamite," a fantastic song, was a huge swing and a miss. Her dancing was manic and more uncomfortable than Thanksgiving dinner at the in-laws'. Waste of stage time.

Best: The premiere of Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" video was self-indulgent, spilled over with vanity and forged Swift into the hero and victim of her own story. That all said, it was amazing — the video was stylish, dramatic and somehow made Swift look like she could keep a beat. The pop standard for 2017 has been set.

Best: Miley Cyrus' "Younger Now" set was colorful, lively but totally devoid of the infamy that came with her 2013 VMAs gimmick. This was Miley harnessing her talent and making good music.

Worst: Ed Sheeran won Artist of the Year over more deserving artists, and looked almost irritated to have received the distinction.

Best: Pink's career-spanning performance as part of her Video Vanguard award acceptance was great, but her subsequent speech was better. She shared a story of her daughter feeling undesirable and titled the anecdote into a lesson of self-acceptance.

Best: Susan Bro, whose daughter Heather Heyer was killed protesting racism in Charlottesville, Virginia, introduced a new scholarship that will honor the fight against hatred. "Heather never marched alone," she said adding that people of every race and background stood in solidarity with Heather.